Bowling pin respotting apparatus



Jan. 24, 1961 .1. ZUERCHER BOWLING PIN RESPOTTING APPARATUS Filed Jan.15, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

FIG. 3 I

INVENTOR JOHN ZUERCHER ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1961 J. ZUERCHER 2,969,236

BOWLING PIN RESPOTTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR JOHN ZUERCHER ATTO NEY Jan. 24, 1961 J. ZUERCHER 2,969,236

- BOWLING PIN RESPOTTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet '3I. INVENTOR Z JOHN ZUERCHER BOWLING PIN RESPOTTING APPARATUS JohnZuercher, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to American Machine & FoundryCompany, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 15, 1958, Ser. No.709,028

4 Claims. (Cl. 27 3-42) This invention relates to bowling pin spottingmachines, and more particularly to improvements in mechanism forspotting and respotting bowling pins on the playing bed of a bowlingalley.

According to the invention there are provided ten sleeve like respotunits in substantially triangular configuration. Ten units are employedsince this number conforms with the number of pins customarily used inbowling. However, a diiferent number of respot units could be used ifdesired. The respot units are pivotally mounted on thespotting-respotting table of an automatic pin spotting machine and arecharacterized by the provision of a pivotally mounted lever arm insideeach of the units which when contacted by tne head of a standing pincauses a pivotally mounted yoke, also inside the unit to move intogripping relationship with the neck of the standing pin.

In the illustrated embodiment, the spotting-respotting table is alsoprovided with a plurality of pin spotting devices and is adapted to beraised and lowered relative to a bowling alley during the cyclicoperation of tne associated machine. During the spotting cycle, thetable is lowered and bowling pins are delivered from the severalspotting devices onto the alley wnere they remain in standing triangularplaying arrangement pending the rolling of the first ball of a frame.following this operation, the table is again lowered and the respotunits are actuated to grip any standing pins. The table is then raisedand the alley is swept of dead wood or fallen pins, after which thetable is returned to a position adjacent the alley so that therespotting units can effect the delivery of pins held thereby to thealley in the positions occupied before being gripped and lifted.

It is therefore an ob ect of the present invention to provide novel pinactuated mechanism for gripping and placing bowling pins in standingposition on a bowling alley.

It is a further object of this invention to provide novel respottingdevices for a bowling pin spotting machine employing a pin actuatedgripping yoke.

An added object of the present invention is the provision of novelrespotting machine employing a minimum of moving parts.

Another object of this invention is to employ novel respotting deviceseach in a bowling pin spotting machine, provided with a pin-grippingyoke into and out of gripping position for respotting bowling pins instanding position on a bowlng alley after the first ball and before thelast ball of a frame has been rolled.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in certain combinations and constructions which willbe hereinafter fully described, and then set forth in the claimshereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or likeparts:

tates Patent Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a preferredembodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken along line 22, Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the embodiment of the invention shown inFigure 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation of the invention illustrated inpin-gripping position.

Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section of the invention illustratedin pin-release position.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a pin spotting table of a bowling pinspotting machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the pin spotting table embodying the inventionshown in Fig. 6.

Referring specifically to Figures 6 and 7, the preferred embodiment oftne invention is shown mounted on the pin spotting table T of anautomatic bowling pin spotting machine. Ten units of the inventions,designated generally 10, are shown mounted in substantially triangularconfiguration on table T. This corresponds to the usual member andarrangement of bowling pins 11 as placed in playing position on tneplaying bed of alley A. However, more or less units in otherarrangements may be used, if desired.

Table T is mounted for vertical movement to and from the playing bed ofalley A and to and from a dwell position thereabove during the spottingand respotting cycles of the associated machine. The movement of table Tis controlled by the control systems (not shown) of the associatedmachine. It will be understood that during the respotting cycle, table Tis required to make two movements to and from the playing bed of alleyA. After the first ball has been rolled, table T moves downwardly toengage any standing pins 11 on alley A and elevate them to a positionabove alley A to allow the sweep mechanism (not shown) to clear fallenpins or deadwood off the alley. After the sweep mechanism has clearedthe alley of deadwood, the table T is again moved to the alley A todeposit the elevated pins 11 to their former positions on the alley A.This process is repeated until the last ball of a frame is rolled, atwhich time, the sweep mechanism (not shown) removes all pins 11,standing and fallen, and the machine proceeds to a spotting cycle.

During a spotting cycle, table T puts a full complement of pins 11 inplaying configuration on alley 11 for a new frame. In the game of tenpins two balls usually constitute one frame. However, in the game ofduckpins and candlepins, three balls constitute one frame, thusrequiring two respotting cycles per frame as compared to the singlerespotting cycle per frame required in the game of ten pins. Theinvention is equally adaptable to either requirement, the controlmechanism (not shown) of the associated machine controlling the propercycling of table T.

Table T may be similar in construction and operation to that shown inHalloway et al. Patent 2,781,195 for Bowling Pin Spotting and RespottingMechanism. Only so much of the structure thereof as is necessary to aproper understanding of the present invention is included herein.

As table T is moved downwardly at the start of the respotting cycle,shafts 12 carried by table T in bearings 14 are pivoted to move units 10mounted thereon as shown in Figure 7 into vertical pin-engaging positionas shown in Figure 6. When table T approaches alleyA, pins 11 standingthereon are engaged by units 10 for elevation with table T when itstarts its upward movement and its return to dwell position. After thesweep mechanism (not shown) has removed the deadwood from alley A, tableT, with the pins 11 still held by units 10 moves downwardly towardsalley A. As table T approaches alley A for the second time during therespotting cycle, pins 11 are released by units in standing respottedpositon on alley A to await the rolling of the next ball of the frame.When table T returns to dwell position at the end of the respottingcycle, shafts 12 are again pivoted to move the units 10 out of the pathof action of the pin spotting units (not shown) also carried by table T.

Since each of the ten units 19 is identical in construction andoperation, a detailed description of only one of the units 10 is setforth hereinbelow in the interests of brevity.

A unit 10 embodying the invention comprises a sleevelike housing 16provided with an elongated neck portion 18. Unit 10 is secured at thetop of neck 18 to shaft 12 in a pre-determined position thereoncorresponding to one of the pin spotting positions on alley A. Whentable T is moved downwardly at the start of the respotting cycle, shaft12 is rotated such that housing 16 will be directly over its asosciatedpin spot when table T is adjacent alley A.

Housing 16 is also provided with a bottom and outwardly flanged guideaperture 26 and guide 22. Guide 22 extends upwardly from aperture 20inside housing 16. Guide 22 has a curved surface to coact with theopposite inner wall of housing 16 to accommodate the head and neck ofpins 11 inserted therein. Flared aperture 20 is large enough to admitthe head and neck of pin 11 but not the body portion thereof. Aperture20 having flared edges, can accommodate pins 11 which have slightlyoffspot due to play on alley A.

A generally U-shaped elongated channel 24 is loosely mounted at one endon shaft 26. Shaft 26 is rotatably mounted in housing 16, as shown inFigures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. A generally U-shaped elongated inner channelis pivotally mounted on sleeve 23 inside channel 24 and is biasedagainst the top of guide 22. Spring 29, encircling collar 27, has oneend resting on inner channel 25 and its other end against the edge ofouter channel 24 as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. Thus spring 29 urgeschannels 24 and 25 into position atop guide 22 and tends to maintainchannels 24 and 25 in the same relative position,

A trip member or lever 28 is pivotally mounted on shaft 30 which iscarried and supported by the free ends of the upright flanges ofU-shaped channel 24. A stud 32 is also mounted on member 28 and formsthe anchor for one end of spring 34, while the other end of spring 34 isfastened to shaft 26. Spring 34 tends to maintain a substantial uprightfinger 33 of member 28 in generally the position shown in Figure 1.

Inside housing 16 adjacent the neck portion 18 thereof is pivotallymounted a yoke 40 having two depending arms 42 and 44 provided at thebottom thereof with pinengaging means; such as, inwardly extendingprotrusions 46 and 48. Yoke 40 is loosely mounted on shaft 50 suitablysecured in bearing 51 in housing 16. Mounted on the cross-piece 52 ofyoke 40 directly above the upright finger 38 of member 28 is block 54provided with two camming surfaces 56 and 58 and edges or lips 57 and 59respectively as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5. Block 54 may be secured toyoke 40 as by welding or may be formed integrally therewith. Acompression spring 60 encircles shaft 50 and is confined between one endof yoke 40 and the inner wall of housing 16 creating frictional drag orresistance to pivotal movement of yoke 40. Arm 42 of yoke 40 is providedwith a substantial L-shaped latch 62 extending outwardly therefrom. Whenyoke40 is in nonoperative position shown in Figure 1, a dog 64 on theouter wall of channel 24 fits into latch 6-2 locking yoke 40 innon-operative position. Spring 66 circling shaft 26 with one end bearingagainst dog 64 and the other end against the top of housing 16 tends tohold the yoke in locked position when unit 10 is non-operative.

As unit 10 on table T is moved adjacent alley A at the start of therespotting cycle, the neck of a pin 11 standing on its associated pinspot will enter aperture 20 of housing 16 between guide 22 and the outershell of housing 16 (Figures 3 and 4). As table T and housing 16continue to move downwardly, the top of pin 11 will move relativelyupwardly in housing 16 contacting inner channel 25 resting on guide 22.Channel 24, through the action of spring 29, will be rotated upwardlywith channel 25 about shaft 26, unlocking dog 64 from latch 62 of yoke40. As channel 24 rotates upwardly, so will member 28. When member 28rotates upwardly, its upright finger 38 contacts and rides on surface 56of block 54 until it contacts edge 57. As pin 11 continues to movebracket 24 and hence lever 28 upwardly, arm 38 contacting edge 57, arms42 and 44 of yoke 40 are urged into substantially vertical pin-engagingposition adjacent the neck of pin 11 inserted in housing 16 as shown inFigure 4.

Spring 29 also operates to take up any differential in the event that,through misalignment of the parts of unit 10 or a variation in pinheights, channel 25 is still moved upwardly after yoke 40 has beenbrought to vertical or operative position. If this occurs, channel 25will continue to rotate about shaft 26 while channel 24 supportingmember 28 will be halted thereby. This causes a tension force to beinduced in spring 29 which tends to return channel 25 to its positionadjacent channel 24. It will be appreciated that by having thisresilient connection between channels 24 and 25, rather than a rigidconnection, no jamming or damage to unit 1% will result from amisalignment or variation in pin heights.

As table T and housing 16 move away from alley A to allow the sweep (notshown) to clear the deadwood off the alley A, pin 11 will tend to dropout of or move relatively downward in housing 16 until its neck iswedged against protrusions 46 and 48 of arms 42 and 44, (Figure 4)adjacent aperture 20 in which position pin 11 will be elevated by tableT to dwell position above alley A. When pin 11 moves downward in housing16 spring 29 returns channels 24 and 25, lever 28 to their rest orinoperative position adjacent guide 22 (Figure 3).

After the operation of the sweep (not shown), table T moves downwardlyagain. As table T approaches alley A, the butt end of pin 11 protrudingfrom housing 16 will contact alley A first causing pin 11 will againcontact inner housing 16. The top of pin 11 will again contact innerchannel 25 pivoting channels 24 and 25 upwardly about shaft 26. Member28 will also be pivoted upwardly again. However, since yoke 40 is insubstantially vertical position, the upright finger 38 of member 28 willnow contact and ride on surface 58 of block 54 until it engages edge 59.As table T continues to move downwardly, channels 24 and 25 hence member28 are moved upwardly by pin 11. Finger 38 contacting edge 59 now causesarms 42 and 44 of yoke 40, no longer wedged against the head of pin 11,to swing away from pin 11 into non-operative position, as shown inFigure 5L This releases pin 11 from unit 10 and when table T movesupwardly at the end of the respotting cycle, pin 11 will be leftstanding in its respotted position on alley A.

As the arms 42 and 44 are moved into non-operative position, dog 64 isurged by spring 66 into latch 62 and channels 24 and 25 and member 28are returned to position adjacent the top of guide 22 until activated bya standing pin 11 on the next respotting cycle of table T.

The above description of operation relates to the use of the inventionsolely as a respotting device. It will be appreciated that the inventioncan also be used for both spotting and respotting pins in playingarrangement on the playing bed of a bowling alley.

A full complement of pins can be inserted in units 10 either manually orby suitable means such as is disclosed in Bates Patent 2,388,703 forBowling Pin Spotting Ma: chines.

The machine is then operated to effect the desired movement of table Tto spot and respot pins in playing arrangement on the alley, asdescribed previously hereinabove.

What I claim is:

1. A bowling pin-respotting mechanism for use with a vertically movingpin-spotting table of a bowling pin-spotting machine, comprising ahousing, means pivotally mounting said housing on said table, a gripper,means pivotally mounting said gripper in said housing, an inner and anouter channel, means pivotally mounting said channels inside saidhousing, resilient means to eifect co-action between said channels, acam mounted on said outer channel, and a pair of cam surfaces mounted onsaid gripper, said inner channel being mounted to engage a bowling pininserted in said housing on said table when said table is movedvertically, whereby upon the relative upward movement of said pin saidchannels and said cam are moved upwardly, said cam traveling on saidsurfaces to move said gripper into and out of pin-engaging positionadjacent said pin as said table is moved successively to ward saidalley.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient meansincludes a spring, the opposite ends of which contact said channelswhereby said channels are urged thereby into co-acting engagement, theresiliency of said spring being operative to prevent damage to saidhousing and associated mechanism by variation in heights of said engagedpins.

3. A bowling p-in respotting mechanism for use with the pin spottertable of a bowling pin spotting machine, said table adapted to be movedvertically to and from the playing bed of a bowling alley, comprising ahousing, means pivotally mounting said housing on said table, saidhousing provided with a bottom opening into which the head of a bowlingpin standing on said alley is inserted as said table is moved towardsaid alley, a lever, means pivotally mounting said lever adjacent saidopening for engagement by said pin inserted in said housing, a yoke,means pivotally mounting said yoke in said housing for movement by saidlever, said lever com-prising a pair of substantially U-shaped channels,a bracket pivotaliy mounted on one of said channels adjacent said yoke,and resilient means connecting said channels and urging them intocoacting engagement whereby said yoke will be caused to move by saidbracket into and out of gripping position adjacent a pin as said tableis successively moved toward said alley.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said resilient meansincludes a spring, means mounting opposite ends of said spring adjacenteach of said channels, said spring being operative to permit relativemovement between said channels after said yoke has been moved into orout of gripping position whereby damage to said housing and itsassociated mechanism by variation in heights of said engaged pins isprevented.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,388,708 Bates Nov. 13, 1945 2,726,068 Patterson et al Dec 6, 19552,781,195 Holloway et al. Feb. 12, 1957

